Raiders' left tackle Donald Penn will have foot surgery, ending his ironman streak

Raiders’ left tackle Donald Penn will have foot surgery on Wednesday that will sideline him for the rest of the season, head coach Jack Del Rio confirmed Monday afternoon.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the news Monday morning.

Penn’s run of 170 consecutive regular season starts is the longest active streak among NFL linemen. He hasn’t missed a regular season game since entering the league in 2007. That streak will end on Christmas night in Philadelphia, when the Raiders face the Eagles on Monday Night Football.

The veteran went down with about five minutes left in the first quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Cowboys. He slammed his hand into the grass and limped off with the help of trainers. He headed to the locker room shortly after, a towel over his head and two trainers by his side entering the tunnel.

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Penn didn’t return, and right tackle Marshall Newhouse slid over to the left side in his place. Second-year lineman Vadal Alexander came in at right tackle for Newhouse.

Penn was seen leaving the locker room postgame wearing a protective boot.

“Our leader. Him, Rodney (Hudson), our veterans of the group. Our leaders,” Alexander said. “Our OGs as we call them. We all are experienced. All seven O-linemen who suit up are experienced. I thought it went really smooth."

Alexander allowed three quarterback hits and two hurries in 39 pass-block snaps Sunday night, per Pro Football Focus. That put him 54th of 60 offensive tackles in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency category this week.

While Alexander may have struggled, the Cowboys didn’t sack Derek Carr.

"Vadal battled,” Del Rio said Monday. “There were some times where he needed some help. We gave him some help. There were some times where we didn’t and Derek got rid of the ball quick. He battled. I think that the group as a whole battled. We ran the ball fairly effectively most of the night.

“We didn’t get sacked, so I think you have to be pleased with losing your starting tackle and being able to go the remainder of the game and remain productive the way we were."

Penn signed a two-year, $21 million contract extension with the Raiders the Friday before Oakland’s Week 2 game against the Jets. Penn held out for 26 days before reporting to training camp on Aug. 23. He was set to earn $5.8 million this season but sought a higher figure in line with the league’s top left tackles.

The Raiders (6-8) fell to Dallas on Sunday night, 20-17, all but eliminating them from playoff contention with two games remaining.